Kapiti based hiphop crew The No Problemos have just released their fourth album ‘Staring At the Truth’ which, like the last three releases, is generously available on Bandcamp as a “pay what you like” download. We conducted an email interview with beat maker Tim Calkin……

Thanks for talking to us Tim. Can you tell us a little bit about the No Problemos? Are you a collective? A band? A producer with guest vocalists? Or all of the above? And how did the No Problemos originally get together?

Hey, no worries. We’re pretty much all just mates that have been making music since we were kids. We made hundreds of really bad tunes and no one ever managed to crush our dreams so we just kept at it. Haha nah, It’s something we’ve always done and it’s just progressed naturally. We were a psychedelic rock band until Simmo started busting raps on beats I made on the PC and we were like; “F*** it, well just be a rap crew now.” Randal, Frank and Jos jumped in on vocals and that was it.

The sound is great. Beautifully produced, imaginative, contemporary and original and I have to admit to being surprised that a sound like this did not emerge from a crowded urban environment. Can you tell us something about the inspiration behind the sound?

Cheers. I guess we aspire to make the kind of music we would listen to ourselves. Our first album was inspired by a mad summer we had back in 2012. Lots of sunshine, fishing, beers and mad times. We just developed the sound since then and the lads got deeper lyrically. I feel like I produce the tunes because I want to listen to them but by the time they’re done, I’ve heard them so many times I’m sick of them…

Has living on the Kapiti Coast influenced the No Problemos’ sound?

Yeah, we’re definitely products of our environment. I love Kapiti. If anyone thinks it’s boring, you’re doing it wrong.

How did the rappers become so accomplished? It’s not like there is a huge hiphop scene in Kapiti!

Yeah, everyone definitely stepped their game up. I think we’re always pushing ourselves and each other to raise the bar. It would be no fun if we felt we weren’t progressing. We’re all critical of our own work and never content with what we create. We’ll just finish a song and try make a better one, it never ends. Sometimes we’ll just chill out and play Playstation though.

You use a wide array of musical styles. For example, the track ‘High Tea’ uses ambient samples and ‘Black Sabbath Lately’ has pretty much just one loop repeating like a techno track, while ‘Ain’t Got a Dime’ has a great smooth laid back feel with vocal harmonies. Are there any artists or genres you have great respect for or have been influenced by?

While we were making this last album I would just drive around listening to talkback radio. I don’t really have an explanation for that… bit messed up. I reckon just do away with genres altogether. Take music back to just being good sounds.

Do you exclusively use samples or create sounds yourself?

Yeah both samples and live instruments in there. Sometimes I’ll record guitar, synth or bass myself. Sometimes we’ll get Simmo’s old man Phill to come jam his mandola or Simmo will jam some trumpet or percussion… all sorts.

What are your thoughts on the general state of music in 2015?

Pass

Do the No Problemos have a master plan or do you just roll with what is happening at the time?

The master plan is more of the same really. Some of the lads are gonna do solo projects so I’ll be helping out with those and sending beats to other artists (hmu) and that… I don’t think there will be any new No Probs stuff getting made any time soon though. Used up all our ideas there for now. There’s about 20 half finished tracks floating around that didn’t make the cut so maybe we’ll mix them together and release some of those.

Is there anyone you would like to give a shout out to?

Hi Nan… OneRoof!

Finally, what is today’s word from The No Problemos?

Ah.. sunsmart.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us and here’s hoping many more people get to hear your sound.

Cheers John, peace.

The No Problemos albums can be downloaded here – and hip-hop fans are well encouraged to do so!

All images used with permission.